Control device, control method, program, and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A control device includes a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2013-272937 filed Dec. 27, 2013, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present technology relates to a control device, a control method, aprogram, and an electronic apparatus, and particularly to a controldevice, a control method, a program, and an electronic apparatus inwhich a cursor can be easily operated, for example, by a remotecontroller and the like on which sensors such as a touchpad, a joystick,a gyro, and the like are mounted.

Regarding a remote controller that remotely controls, for example, atelevision receiver (TV), a technology is proposed in which a user caneasily recognize functions assigned to each button of the remotecontroller (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003-223265)

SUMMARY

Incidentally, the cursor is difficult to be operated when the cursordisplayed in an electronic apparatus such as a TV is operated by aremote controller and the like. It is desirable that the cursor be ableto be easily operated.

According to an embodiment of the present technology, there are provideda control device and a program. The control device includes a controlunit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response toan operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously ona display screen. The program causes a computer to function as thecontrol device.

According to another embodiment of the present technology, there isprovided a control method including displaying a first cursor thatdiscretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a secondcursor that changes continuously on a display screen.

In the control device, the control method, and the program, the firstcursor that discretely moves in response to the operation of the userand the second cursor that changes continuously are displayed on thedisplay screen.

According to still another embodiment of the present technology, thereis provided an electronic apparatus including a reception unit thatreceives an operation signal which is transmitted from a remotecontroller and corresponds to an operation of a user and a control unitthat displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to theoperation signal and a second cursor which changes continuously on adisplay screen.

In the electronic apparatus, the operation signal that is transmittedfrom the remote controller and corresponds to the operation of the useris received, and the first cursor which discretely moves in response tothe operation signal and the second cursor which changes continuouslyare displayed on the display screen.

The control device may be an independent device or may be an internalblock that constitutes one device. The program may be provided by beingtransferred via a transfer medium or being recorded in a recordingmedium.

According to the present technology, a cursor can be easily operated.The effect described here is not necessarily limited and may be anyeffect described in the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of anembodiment of a TV system to which the present technology is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of theexterior of a remote controller;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration example of anoperation panel of the remote controller;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configurationexample of the remote controller and a TV;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a cursor inthe TV when selecting an item using a discrete point cursor;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of the TVwhen selecting an item using the discrete point cursor;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of resetting an auxiliarycursor;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying the cursor inthe TV when selecting an item using a rectangular cursor as the discretepoint cursor;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating an example of correcting theposition of the auxiliary cursor;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the auxiliarycursor;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the auxiliarycursor;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a third example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of page switching;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating an example of switching acurrent page in the TV;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process when therectangular cursor is moved in response to a swipe operation on atouchpad;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for performingpage switching without being dependent on the position of therectangular cursor;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating an example of updating thestart position of movement;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a first display example ofannouncement information;

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a second display example of theannouncement information;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process when movinga free point cursor in the TV;

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the angle ofa direction of a swipe operation (angle of operation) on the touchpadand the angle of a direction of movement (angle of movement) of the freepoint cursor; and

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of anembodiment of a computer to which the present technology is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment of a TV System to Which the Present Technology Is Applied.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of anembodiment of a TV system to which the present technology is applied.

The TV system includes a remote controller 11 and a TV 12 in FIG. 1. Theremote controller 11 is operated by a user and transmits an operationsignal that corresponds to an operation of the user. Transmitting theoperation signal by the remote controller 11 may be performed throughany method between wired communication and wireless communication.

In a case of transmitting the operation signal by the remote controller11 through wireless communication, for example, infrared communication,wireless local area network (LAN), Bluetooth (registered trademark), orany other communication methods can be adopted as the wirelesscommunication.

The TV 12 receives contents of a television broadcast, contents that arereproduced in external devices, contents that are transmitted vianetworks such as the Internet, and the like, displays images of thecontents on a display screen, and outputs audio. In addition, the TV 12displays a cursor and an item that is selected by the cursor as agraphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen when necessary.

For example, menu items on a menu screen, icons as symbols of contents,and the like are exemplified as the item displayed in the TV 12. Whenmultiple items exist as the item displayed in the TV 12, the multipleitems can be divided into multiple pages, and the items can be displayedfor each page on the TV 12.

In the present embodiment, displays that change the luminance, thecolor, the shape (including the size), and the like of an item so thatthe user can recognize that the item is focused are included in thecursor besides images that are explicitly displayed as the cursor suchas an arrow, a rectangle (the frame thereof), and the like.

The TV 12 receives the operation signal transmitted from the remotecontroller 11 and performs various processes in response to theoperation signal. That is, the TV 12, for example, changes the channelfor selecting a station that is selected and volume in response to theoperation signal from the remote controller 11.

In addition, the TV 12, for example, changes the state of the cursorsuch as movement and the like of the cursor in response to the operationsignal from the remote controller 11. Furthermore, the TV 12, forexample, switches (changes) the page displayed on the display screenwhen items are displayed across the multiple pages in response to theoperation signal from the remote controller 11.

Configuration Example of the Exterior of the Remote Controller 11

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of theexterior of a remote controller 11 in FIG. 1.

The remote controller 11 is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped anda substantially flat plate A hard key unit 21, a touchpad 22, and a hardkey unit 23 that are operated by the user are disposed on one surface ofthe flat plate as the remote controller 11.

The surface of the remote controller 11 where the hard key unit 21, thetouchpad 22, and the hard key unit 23 that are operated by the user aredisposed is hereinafter referred to as an operation panel. Each of thestate of the remote controller 11 where the operation panel faces upwardand the state of the remote controller 11 where the operation panelfaces downward is illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration example of anoperation panel of the remote controller 11.

Hard keys 31 and 32 are disposed in the hard key unit 21.

The hard key 31 is a power key. The power of the TV 12 is ON or OFF whenthe hard key 31 is operated.

The hard key 32 is a special key. The TV 12 performs a predeterminedprocess when the hard key 32 is operated.

The touchpad 22 is operated when moving the cursor displayed in the TV12 or in other various cases.

In FIG. 3, the touchpad 22 is shaped like a substantial trapezoid and issectioned into an area 41 on the upper base side (upper portion) of thetrapezoid, an area 43 on the lower base side (lower portion), and anarea 42 in the center portion interposed between the areas 41 and 43.

The TV 12, for example, changes the channel for selecting a station in away that the channel number increases to be greater than the currentchannel number when the area 41 is operated by a swipe from the right tothe left in the horizontal direction (x direction).

The TV 12, for example, changes the channel for selecting a station in away that the channel number decreases to be smaller than the currentchannel number when the area 41 is operated by a swipe from the left tothe right.

In addition, the touchpad 22 can be pushed to be operated. The TV 12,for example, displays the remote controller (the image thereof) forcontrolling the TV 12 on the display screen when an area 41A at thecenter of the area 41 is pushed to be operated (when a push operation isperformed on the touchpad 22 while the area 41A is being touched). Theremote controller can be displayed when an arbitrary position in thearea 41 is pushed to be operated besides when the area 41A is pushed tobe operated.

The area 42 is swiped to be operated when moving the cursor displayed inthe TV 12 and the like. That is, the cursor displayed in the TV 12, forexample, moves in response to a swipe operation in the area 42 when thearea 42 is swiped to be operated.

In addition, the TV 12, for example, performs the same process as thatin a case where a so-called decision key is operated when the area 42 ispushed to be operated (when a push operation is performed on thetouchpad 22 while the area 42 is being touched).Furthermore, the TV 12,for example, performs the same process as that in a case where aso-called cursor key is operated when the area 42 is flicked to beoperated.

The area 43 is sectioned into three areas 43A, 43B, and 43C in thehorizontal direction. The TV 12, for example, performs the same process(process of returning to the previous state) as that in a case where aso-called return key is operated when the area 43A is pushed to beoperated.

The TV 12, for example, performs the same process (process of displayinga home screen) as that in a case where a so-called home key is operatedwhen the area 43B is pushed to be operated. The TV 12, for example,displays a broadcast selection screen for selecting a broadcast on thedisplay screen when the area 43B is swiped to be operated in thevertically upward direction (y direction).

The TV 12, for example, performs the same process (for example, aprocess of displaying an option menu) as that in a case where aso-called option key is operated when the area 43C is pushed to beoperated.

Hard keys 51, 52, 53, and 54 are disposed in the hard key unit 23.

The hard key 51, for example, is operated when incrementing the channelfor selecting a station in the TV 12.

The hard key 52, for example, is operated when decrementing the channelfor selecting a station in the TV 12.

The hard key 53, for example, is operated when increasing volume in theTV 12. The hard key 54, for example, is operated when decreasing volumein the TV 12.

Electrical Configuration Example of the Remote Controller 11 and the TV12

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configurationexample of the remote controller 11 and the TV 12 in FIG. 1.

The remote controller 11 includes an operation unit 71, a detection unit72, and a communication unit 73.

The operation unit 71 corresponds to the hard key unit 21, the touchpad22, and the hard key unit 23 (FIG. 2) and is operated by the user.

The detection unit 72 detects the operation of the operation unit 71 bythe user and supplies the operation signal corresponding to theoperation to the communication unit 73.

The communication unit 73 wirelessly transmits the operation signal fromthe detection unit 72.

The TV 12 includes a communication unit 81, a determination unit 82, acontrol unit 83, and a display unit 84.

The communication unit 81 receives the operation signal transmitted fromthe remote controller 11 (the communication unit 73 thereof) andsupplies the operation signal to the determination unit 82.

The determination unit 82 determines the operation of the remotecontroller 11 by the user on the basis of the operation signal from thecommunication unit 81 and supplies the determination result and theoperation signal from the communication unit 81 to the control unit 83.

The control unit 83 controls the entire TV 12 in response to thedetection result of the operation by the user and the operation signalfrom the determination unit 82. That is, the control unit 83, forexample, controls the channel, volume, and the like in response to thedetermination result of the operation by the user and the operationsignal from the determination unit 82.

In addition, the control unit 83, for example, controls the display ofthe cursor and items in the display unit 84 in response to the detectionresult of the operation by the user and the operation signal from thedetermination unit 82.

The display unit 84, for example, is configured of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or the likeand displays images of contents, items, and the cursor according to thecontrol and the like of the control unit 83 on the display screen.

Display of the Cursor When Selecting an Item Using a Discrete PointCursor

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a cursor inthe TV 12 when selecting an item using a discrete point cursor.

In FIG. 5, multiple items are displayed on the display screen (of thedisplay unit 84) in the form of being lined up in the horizontaldirection as a one-dimensional direction by the control unit 83.Furthermore, in FIG. 5, a rectangular cursor and an auxiliary cursor aredisplayed on the display screen by the control unit 83.

In FIG. 5, the rectangular cursor is a cursor shaped like a rectangularframe and discretely moves only to the position of an item so as tosurround the item in response to the operation of the remote controller11. Here, when referring to the discretely moving cursor (first cursor)as a discrete point cursor, the rectangular cursor is the discrete pointcursor.

In FIG. 5, the auxiliary cursor is a cursor shaped like a point andcontinuously moves (the position as the state of the auxiliary cursorchanges continuously) in response to the operation of the remotecontroller 11. Here, when referring to the continuously moving cursor(second cursor) as a free point cursor, the auxiliary cursor is the freepoint cursor.

In FIG. 5, the auxiliary cursor is displayed under the rectangularcursor as a position close to the rectangular cursor that selects itemslined up in the horizontal direction.

The rectangular cursor is (discretely) moved to the adjacent item (theposition thereof) from a currently selected item (the position thereof)in a direction of a swipe operation by the control unit 83, for example,when the touchpad 22 (the area 42 thereof) of the remote controller 11is swiped to be operated by a predetermined amount (or greater) in thehorizontal direction.

The control unit 83 can ignore a component orthogonal to the horizontaldirection in which items are lined up among directional components of aswipe operation on the touchpad 22 when items are lined up only in theone-dimensional horizontal direction as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In this case, the control unit 83 moves the rectangular cursor and theauxiliary cursor only in response to the component in the horizontaldirection in which items are lined up as a valid component amongcomponents of a swipe operation on the touchpad 22.

Accordingly, the rectangular cursor and the auxiliary cursor only movein the one-dimensional direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 5) inwhich items are lined up when the items are only one-dimensionally linedup, and the component orthogonal to the horizontal direction in whichthe items are lined up is ignored among the components of a swipeoperation on the touchpad 22.

As described above, a swipe operation on the touchpad 22 may bedifficult to be performed if the auxiliary cursor does not exist whenthe touchpad 22 is swiped to be operated by a predetermined amount inthe horizontal direction, and the rectangular cursor is moved to theadjacent item from the currently selected item.

That is, the rectangular cursor is moved when the touchpad 22 is swipedto be operated by a predetermined amount in the horizontal direction,but with only the rectangular cursor, it is difficult for a user torecognize the extent to perform a swipe operation to move therectangular cursor. As a consequence, the user performs a swipeoperation with uncertainties.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary cursor that is the free pointcursor is displayed besides the rectangular cursor that is the discretepoint cursor. The auxiliary cursor continuously moves in response to aswipe operation by the user on the touchpad 22 since the auxiliarycursor is the free point cursor.

That is, the auxiliary cursor that is the free point cursor continuouslymoves in response to a swipe operation on the touchpad 22 even when theamount of the swipe operation on the touchpad 22 does not reach apredetermined amount, and the rectangular cursor that is the discretepoint cursor does not move.

When items are lined up only in the one-dimensional horizontaldirection, the auxiliary cursor, for example, is displayed at a positionunder the rectangular cursor corresponding to the center (center ofmass) of the rectangular cursor (position bisecting the rectangularcursor in the horizontal direction) as the initial position thereof andthereafter, (continuously) moves in the horizontal direction in responseto a swipe operation when the touchpad 22 is swiped to be operated.

In FIG. 5, the rectangular cursor is displayed at the position of thesecond item from the left among three items lined up in the horizontaldirection, and the auxiliary cursor is displayed at the position underthe rectangular cursor corresponding to the center of the rectangularcursor as the initial position thereof. In addition, in FIG. 5, theauxiliary cursor moves to the right from the initial position inresponse to the swipe operation to the right on the touchpad 22.

The determination unit 82 determines whether the amount of movement(amount of change) of the auxiliary cursor with the center of therectangular cursor as a reference, for example, exceeds half the widthof the rectangular cursor in the transverse direction (horizontaldirection) as a threshold corresponding to the size of the rectangularcursor (hereinafter, also referred to as a movement threshold).

The control unit 83 moves the rectangular cursor to the item positionedin the direction of movement (direction of change) of the auxiliarycursor from the currently selected item as illustrated in FIG. 5 whenthe amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor with the center of therectangular cursor as a reference exceeds the movement threshold. Asdescribed above, the rectangular cursor (first cursor) and the auxiliarycursor (second cursor) collaborate (cooperate) with each other to move.

In FIG. 5, the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor by the swipeoperation to the right on the touchpad 22 exceeds the movementthreshold. Thus, the rectangular cursor moves to the position of thethird (right end) item from the second item from the left among threeitems lined up in the horizontal direction.

In this case, the amount of the swipe operation on the touchpad 22 isrepresented as the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor with thecenter of the rectangular cursor as a reference, and both ends (left endand right end) of the rectangular cursor are used as the threshold ofthe amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor when the rectangularcursor is moved. Thus, the user can recognize the extent of the swipeoperation that allows the rectangular cursor to move by the auxiliarycursor.

Furthermore, the auxiliary cursor continuously moving in response to theswipe operation by the user allows the user to be able to receive visualfeedback with respect to the swipe operation and to be able to recognizethat a process with respect to the swipe operation is being performed.As a consequence, the user can easily operate the rectangular cursorwithout feeling uncertainties such as “Does the rectangular cursor moveby the swipe operation?”, and “When does the rectangular cursor move?”.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process of the TV 12when selecting an item using the rectangular cursor as the discretepoint cursor as described above.

The control unit 83 displays multiple items lined up in theone-dimensional horizontal direction and displays the rectangular cursorand the auxiliary cursor at the position of a predetermined item amongthe multiple items on the display screen in step S11. The processproceeds to step S12.

The auxiliary cursor, for example, is displayed at the initial positionwith the rectangular cursor as a reference, that is, the position underthe rectangular cursor corresponding to the center of the rectangularcursor (position bisecting the rectangular cursor in the horizontaldirection).

In step S12, the determination unit 82 determines whether the touchpad22 (the area 42 thereof) is swiped to be operated on the basis of theoperation signal supplied from the communication unit 81. The processreturns to step S12 when the touchpad 22 is determined not to be swipedto be operated in step S12.

The process proceeds to step S13 when the touchpad 22 is determined tobe swiped to be operated in step S12. The control unit 83 moves theauxiliary cursor in response to the amount of the swipe operation on thetouchpad 22, and the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the determination unit 82 determines whether the amount ofmovement (amount of change) of the auxiliary cursor with the rectangularcursor as a reference, for example, exceeds half the width of therectangular cursor in the transverse direction as the movement thresholdthat is the threshold corresponding to the size of the rectangularcursor on the basis of the operation signal supplied from thecommunication unit 81.

The process returns to step S12 when the amount of movement of theauxiliary cursor with the rectangular cursor as a reference isdetermined to exceed the movement threshold in step S14.

The process proceeds to S15 when the amount of movement of the auxiliarycursor with the rectangular cursor as a reference is determined toexceed the movement threshold in step S14. The control unit 83 moves therectangular cursor to the item positioned in the direction of movement(direction of change) of the auxiliary cursor. Then, the process returnsto step S12 from step S15, and thereafter, the same process is repeated.

The auxiliary cursor, for example, can be displayed only during theswipe operation on the touchpad 22. In this case, the user can recognizethat the swipe operation is functioning on the touchpad 22. In addition,the auxiliary cursor may not be displayed when, for example, the remotecontroller 11 includes a cursor key as a hard key, and the cursor key isoperated.

When the rectangular cursor is moved by operating (pushing) the cursorkey, the rectangular cursor is generally moved to the item in adirection corresponding to the pushed cursor key by pushing the cursorkey because the auxiliary cursor that represents the amount of the swipeoperation on the touchpad 22 is not necessary to be displayed.

Furthermore, the user can be prevented from perceiving operating thecursor key as operating the auxiliary cursor by not displaying theauxiliary cursor during operating the cursor key. The above descriptionis also applied to a flick operation on the area 42 of the touchpad 22that is equivalent to the cursor key operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of resetting the auxiliarycursor.

The control unit 83 can reset the auxiliary cursor (with the rectangularcursor as a reference) to the initial state thereof with a predeterminedevent as a trigger. That is, the auxiliary cursor can be reset to moveto the initial position in response to a predetermined event. Thepredetermined event that resets the auxiliary cursor here is alsoreferred to as a reset event.

In FIG. 7, like in the case in FIG. 5, the auxiliary cursor moves to theright within a range not exceeding the movement threshold in response tothe swipe operation to the right on the touchpad 22.

Thereafter, some reset event occurs, and the auxiliary cursor is resetto move to the initial position. As the reset event, for example,movement of the rectangular cursor can be adopted.

When the auxiliary cursor is reset by movement of the rectangular cursoras the reset event, the rectangular cursor can be moved with the sameamount of the operation (the same amount of movement of the auxiliarycursor (half the width of the rectangular cursor in the transversedirection)) by a swipe operation to any direction between the left andthe right after the rectangular cursor is moved.

When the auxiliary cursor is not reset after the rectangular cursor ismoved, the rectangular cursor, for example, is moved to the left toreturn to the original position of the item with a slight amount ofoperation when a swipe operation is performed to the left immediatelyafter the rectangular cursor is moved to the right by a swipe operationto the right on the touchpad 22. Accordingly, the rectangular cursor maymove to the left against the intention of the user when the auxiliarycursor is not reset after the rectangular cursor is moved.

Resetting the auxiliary cursor using movement of the rectangular cursoras the reset event can prevent the rectangular cursor from movingagainst the intention of the user as described above and further canrelieve the user from uncertainties such as the unintended movement ofthe rectangular cursor.

Besides movement of the rectangular cursor, for example, events such asthe user stopping contact with (touching) the touchpad 22 (for example,when the finger used in operating the touchpad 22 is separated from thetouchpad 22), the user not operating the touchpad 22 continuously for apredetermined time period, and the user reversing the direction of aswipe operation can be adopted as the reset event.

The display of the rectangular cursor and the auxiliary cursor above canalso be applied to a case where items are lined up in the verticaldirection or any other one-dimensional direction besides the case wheremultiple items are lined up in the horizontal direction as aone-dimensional direction on the display screen.

Furthermore, the display of the rectangular cursor and the auxiliarycursor can also be applied to a case where multiple items, for example,are lined up in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction as atwo-dimensional direction (or further in a case where items arethree-dimensionally (3D) displayed by adding the depth direction) on thedisplay screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying the cursor inthe TV 12 when selecting an item that is lined up in a two-dimensionaldirection using the rectangular cursor as the discrete point cursor.

In FIG. 8, multiple items are displayed on the display screen in theform of being lined up in both the horizontal direction and the verticaldirection as a two-dimensional direction by the control unit 83.

Furthermore, in FIG. 8, the rectangular cursor and the auxiliary cursorare displayed on the display screen by the control unit 83.

As described in FIG. 5, the rectangular cursor discretely moves only tothe position of an item so as to surround the item in response to theoperation of the remote controller 11, and the auxiliary cursorcontinuously moves in response to the operation of the remote controller11.

In FIG. 8, the auxiliary cursor is displayed inside the rectangularcursor (inside the frame as the rectangular cursor) as a position closeto the rectangular cursor.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the rectangular cursor and the auxiliarycursor move in the horizontal direction in response to the horizontalcomponent among components of the swipe operation on the touchpad 22,and the rectangular cursor and the auxiliary cursor move in the verticaldirection in response to the vertical component among the components ofthe swipe operation by the control unit 83 when items aretwo-dimensionally lined up in both the horizontal direction and thevertical direction.

Furthermore, the auxiliary cursor is displayed at the center (center ofmass) of the rectangular cursor as the initial position when items aretwo-dimensionally lined up. The auxiliary cursor moves in the horizontaldirection and the vertical direction (arbitrary two-dimensionaldirection) in response to the swipe operation when the touchpad 22 isswiped to be operated.

In FIG. 8, the rectangular cursor is displayed at the position of theitem that is the first from the top and the second from the left amongthree×two items where three×two is the number of columns×the number ofrows (in the horizontal direction×the vertical direction), and theauxiliary cursor is displayed at the center of the rectangular cursor asthe initial position.

In addition, in FIG. 8, the auxiliary cursor moves downward from theinitial position in response to the swipe operation downward on thetouchpad 22.

The determination unit 82 determines the amount of movement (amount ofchange) of the auxiliary cursor in each of the horizontal direction andthe vertical direction like in the case in FIG. 5.

That is, regarding the horizontal direction, the determination unit 82determines whether the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor withthe rectangular cursor (the center thereof) as a reference, for example,exceeds half the width of the rectangular cursor in the transversedirection as the movement threshold corresponding to the size of therectangular cursor (in the horizontal direction)

Similarly, regarding the vertical direction, the determination unit 82determines whether the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor withthe rectangular cursor as a reference, for example, exceeds half thewidth of the rectangular cursor in the perpendicular direction as themovement threshold corresponding to the size of the rectangular cursor(in the vertical direction).

The control unit 83 moves the rectangular cursor to the item positionedin the direction of movement (direction of change) of the auxiliarycursor as the horizontal direction and the vertical direction from thecurrently selected item when the amount of movement of the auxiliarycursor with the rectangular cursor as a reference exceeds the movementthreshold.

In FIG. 8, the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor by the swipeoperation downward on the touchpad 22 exceeds the movement threshold.Thus, the rectangular cursor moves to the position of the item downward,that is, the second from the top and the second from the left amongthree×two items.

As described above, even in the case where items are two-dimensionallylined up, like in the case where items are one-dimensionally lined up inFIG. 5, the amount of the swipe operation on the touchpad 22 isrepresented as the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor with therectangular cursor as a reference, and both ends of the left and theright and both ends of the top and the bottom of the rectangular cursorare used as the threshold of the amount of movement of the auxiliarycursor when the rectangular cursor is moved. Thus, the user canrecognize the extent of the swipe operation that allows the rectangularcursor to move by the auxiliary cursor. As a consequence, therectangular cursor can be easily operated.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams illustrating an example of correcting theposition of the auxiliary cursor.

As described in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the user holds and operates theremote controller 11 shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped and asubstantially flat plate in the hand, the user, for example, holds theremote controller 11 from the side surface (the left side surface or theright side surface of the remote controller 11 with the longitudinaldirection thereof directed in the vertical direction (y direction) whenthe operation panel of the remote controller 11 is the front asillustrated in FIG. 3) and operates the touchpad 22 with the thumb.

Even though the user intends to swipe straightly in the horizontaldirection or the vertical direction to operate the touchpad 22, theactual swipe operation is performed like drawing an arc when the userholds the remote controller 11 in the hand and operates the touchpad 22with the thumb as described above.

FIG. 9A illustrates an example of the trajectory of movement of theauxiliary cursor in a swipe operation that is intended to be performedstraightly in the horizontal direction.

In FIGS. 9A to 9C, the user performs a swipe operation in the horizontaldirection to move the rectangular cursor (not illustrated in FIGS. 9A to9C) from the left to the right in the second line of items from the topof items lined up two-dimensionally. However, the swipe operation of theuser is performed like drawing an arc. Thus, the trajectory of movementof the auxiliary cursor is made in an arc in response to the swipeoperation of the user.

Accordingly, the rectangular cursor also moves through the position ofthe items illustrated with hatching in FIG. 9A, having the trajectorylike drawing an arc. The rectangular cursor not only moves in the seconditems from the top, but also moves up or down to the adjacent itemregardless of the intention of the user to move the rectangular cursorfrom the left to the right in the second line of items from the top.

Operability of the rectangular cursor decreases when the rectangularcursor wobbles against the intention of the user like moving to theupper or lower item regardless of the intention of the user to move therectangular cursor in the horizontal direction (from the left to theright in the second line of items from the top in FIGS. 9A to 9C) asdescribed above.

The control unit 83 can correct the position of the auxiliary cursor byresetting the position (state) of the auxiliary cursor in a directionorthogonal to the direction of movement of the rectangular cursor to theinitial position (initial state) when the rectangular cursor moves.

FIG. 9B illustrates an example of correcting the position of theauxiliary cursor when a swipe operation is performed in the horizontaldirection.

In FIG. 9B, the amount of movement of the auxiliary cursor with therectangular cursor as a reference exceeds the movement threshold, andthe rectangular cursor moves to the item on the right side.

When the rectangular cursor moves to the item in the horizontaldirection (right in FIG. 9B), the position of the auxiliary cursor inthe vertical direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction, which isthe direction of movement of the rectangular cursor, is reset to thecenter of the rectangular cursor as the initial position. Thus, theposition of the auxiliary cursor is corrected as illustrated by arrowsin FIG. 9B.

FIG. 9C illustrates an example of the trajectory of movement of theauxiliary cursor in a swipe operation that is intended to be performedstraightly in the horizontal direction when the position of theauxiliary cursor is corrected as described above.

Correcting the position of the auxiliary cursor allows the rectangularcursor to be able to move through the position of the items lined upstraightly in the horizontal direction as illustrated with hatching inFIG. 9C even though the swipe operation of the user in the horizontaldirection is performed like drawing an arc.

Accordingly, correcting the position of the auxiliary cursor byresetting prevents the rectangular cursor from wobbling against theintention of the user. As a consequence, the rectangular cursor can beeasily operated.

When the rectangular cursor moves in the horizontal direction, theposition of the auxiliary cursor in the vertical direction orthogonal tothe horizontal direction, which is the direction of movement of therectangular cursor, is reset to the center of the rectangular cursor asthe initial position as described above. In this case, the rectangularcursor can be prevented from wobbling up and down (in the verticaldirection).

Meanwhile, when the rectangular cursor moves in the vertical direction,the position of the auxiliary cursor in the horizontal directionorthogonal to the vertical direction, which is the direction of movementof the rectangular cursor, is reset to the center of the rectangularcursor as the initial position. In this case, the rectangular cursor canbe prevented from wobbling left and right (in the horizontal direction).

In the case described above, the point-shaped cursor (image) is adoptedas the auxiliary cursor. However, any other cursors can be adopted asthe auxiliary cursor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the auxiliarycursor. In FIG. 10, a point of pale light that is spread like a discshape is adopted as the auxiliary cursor.

In addition, in FIG. 10, items lined up one-dimensionally are displayedon the display screen in the horizontal direction. The point of light asthe auxiliary cursor is displayed in the form of overlaying the upperedge of the rectangular cursor.

The point of light as the auxiliary cursor moves to the left in responseto a swipe operation when the swipe operation is performed to the leftand moves to the right in response to a swipe operation when the swipeoperation is performed to the right.

Meanwhile, regarding the point of light as the auxiliary cursor, thewidth of the point of light can be widened at the position of the centerof the rectangular cursor (the upper edge thereof). The width of thepoint of light can be narrowed as the point of light is positioned tothe left or the right of the rectangular cursor.

When the width of the point of light is set to be consistent regardlessof the position of the point of light on the rectangular cursor, thepoint of light stands out as the free point cursor. Thus, operationalsensitivity may deteriorate.

On the contrary, the point of light can be prevented from standing outas the free point cursor, and seamless sensitivity and furtheroperational sensitivity can be improved when moving the rectangularcursor by widening the width of the point of light at the position ofthe center of the rectangular cursor and narrowing the width of thepoint of light as the point of light is positioned to the left or theright of the rectangular cursor as described above.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the auxiliarycursor. A bar is adopted as the auxiliary cursor in FIG. 11.

In addition, in FIG. 11, items lined up one-dimensionally are displayedon the display screen in the horizontal direction. The bar as theauxiliary cursor is displayed in the form of being closely over therectangular cursor.

The bar as the auxiliary cursor moves to the left in response to a swipeoperation when the swipe operation is performed to the left and moves tothe right in response to a swipe operation when the swipe operation isperformed to the right.

Besides adopting cursors such as the point-shaped cursor, the point oflight, and the bar above that are separate from the rectangular cursor,a cursor integrated with the rectangular cursor can be adopted as theauxiliary cursor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor.

The color intensity of the frame of the rectangular cursor isfunctioning as the auxiliary cursor in FIG. 12.

The color intensity (intenseness) of the frame of the rectangular cursoras the auxiliary cursor is consistent (initial state) across the entireframe when a swipe operation is not performed (corresponding to when thepoint-shaped auxiliary cursor is at the initial position).

The color intensity of the frame of the rectangular cursor as theauxiliary cursor is more intense to the left side of the frame (lighterto the right side of the frame) when a swipe operation is performed tothe left.

The color intensity of the frame of the rectangular cursor as theauxiliary cursor is more intense to the right side of the frame (lighterto the left side of the frame) when a swipe operation is performed tothe right.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor.

The luminance (brightness) of the frame of the rectangular cursor isfunctioning as the auxiliary cursor in FIG. 13.

The luminance of the center part between the left and the right of theframe of the rectangular cursor is greater (brighter) than the otherpart (initial state) when a swipe operation is not performed.

The part of the frame of the rectangular cursor where the luminance asthe auxiliary cursor is great moves to the left when a swipe operationis performed to the left.

The part of the frame of the rectangular cursor where the luminance asthe auxiliary cursor is great moves to the right when a swipe operationis performed to the right.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a third example of the auxiliarycursor integrated with the rectangular cursor.

The inclination (shape) of the frame of the rectangular cursor isfunctioning as the auxiliary cursor in FIG. 14.

The inclination of the frame of the rectangular cursor as the auxiliarycursor is in a state where the frame faces the front (initial state)when a swipe operation is not performed.

The inclination of the frame of the rectangular cursor as the auxiliarycursor is in a state where the item surrounded by the frame seems tomove to the item on the left side when a swipe operation is performed tothe left.

The inclination of the frame of the rectangular cursor as the auxiliarycursor is in a state where the item surrounded by the frame seems tomove to the item on the right side when a swipe operation is performedto the right.

As described above, a cursor integrated with the rectangular cursor canbe used as the auxiliary cursor besides a cursor that is separate fromthe rectangular cursor.

The auxiliary cursor can be designed by adopting, for example, a designin accordance with the design and the like of the display screen whenitems are displayed on the display screen.

Moving the rectangular cursor achieves the aim to select an item.However, since the auxiliary cursor is a cursor that assists inachieving the aim, it is not preferable for the auxiliary cursor tostand out or to give the user an impression of operating the auxiliarycursor.

Adopting a cursor with a design that does not stand out or a cursorintegrated with the rectangular cursor as the auxiliary cursor canprevent the auxiliary cursor from standing out and give the user less ofan impression of operating the auxiliary cursor.

Page Switching

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of page switching.Hereinafter, descriptions and illustrations of the auxiliary cursor willbe omitted.

As described in FIG. 1, when multiple items exist as the item displayedin the TV 12, the multiple items can be divided into multiple pages, andthe items can be displayed for each page on the TV 12.

Given that a page that is now displayed on the display screen isreferred to as a current page, operating the remote controller 11 tomove the rectangular cursor further to the left or the right than theitem at the left end or the right end of the current page allows thecontrol unit 83 to switch the current page to the previous (left side)page or the next (right side) page of the current page.

In FIG. 15, when a page #1 is the current page, the touchpad 22 isswiped to be operated to the right to move the rectangular cursorfurther to the right than the item at the right end of the current page.Thus, the current page is switched from the page #1 to the next page #2.

Switching the current page as described above without any restrictionsthereon may cause the rectangular cursor to, so to say, excessively movefurther to the left or the right than the left end or the right end ofthe current page to switch the current page against the intention of theuser when the user swipes to operate the touchpad 22 not to switch thecurrent page but to select the item at the left end or the right end ofthe current page. Thus, switching the current page can be restricted inthe TV 12 when necessary.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating an example of switching thecurrent page in the TV 12.

The rectangular cursor that discretely moves to the position of an itemand items selected by the rectangular cursor are displayed on thedisplay screen in FIGS. 16A and 16B.

In addition, in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the pages #1 and #2 exist as themultiple pages where the items are arranged, and the page #1 is thecurrent page.

FIG. 16A illustrates an example of movement of the rectangular cursorwhen the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor is not theposition of the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page among theitems in the current page. A swipe operation is now performed on thetouchpad 22 to the right from the page #1 that is the current pagetoward the page #2 that is the adjacent page adjacent to the page #1.

In this case, the control unit 83 restricts the rectangular cursor tomove up to the position of the adjacent item when the start position ofmovement of the rectangular cursor is the item adjacent to the(adjacent) page #2 in the right that is the direction of movement of therectangular cursor among the items in the page #1 as the current page,that is, when the start position of movement of the rectangular cursoris not the position of the item at the right end of the page #1. Thecontrol unit 83 does not restrict the movement of the rectangular cursorwhen the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor is theposition of the adjacent item (the item at the right end of the page#1).

In FIG. 16A, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor isthe position of the second item from the left among the items in thepage #1 as the current page, not the position of the adjacent item (theitem at the right end of the page #1) adjacent to the page #2 in theright that is the direction of movement of the rectangular cursor. Thus,the rectangular cursor is restricted to move up to the position of theitem at the right end of the page #1 in response to the swipe operationto the right, and the rectangular cursor stops at the position of theitem at the right end of the page #1.

FIG. 16B illustrates an example of movement of the rectangular cursorwhen the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor is theposition of the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page (page #2) inthe right that is the direction of movement of the rectangular cursoramong the items in the current page.

In FIG. 16B, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor isthe position of the adjacent item (the item at the right end of the page#1) adjacent to the page #2 in the right that is the direction ofmovement of the rectangular cursor. Thus, the control unit 83 restrictsthe movement of the rectangular cursor.

That is, the control unit 83 switches the current page to the page #2 asthe adjacent page in the right that is the direction of movement of therectangular cursor in response to the swipe operation and moves therectangular cursor to the position of the item in the page #2 as thecurrent page after page switching that is adjacent to the page #1 as thecurrent page before page switching, that is, to the position of the itemat the left end of the page #2.

As described above, the control unit 83 switches a page only when therectangular cursor is at the position of the item at the left end or theright end of the current page, and a swipe operation is started. Thecontrol unit 83 does not switch a page by restricting the rectangularcursor to move up to the position of the item at the left end or theright end of the current page when the rectangular cursor is not at theposition of the item at the left end or the right end of the currentitem, and a swipe operation is started.

Accordingly, a page can be prevented from being switched against theintention of the user even when the user excessively swipes to operatethe touchpad 22.

Furthermore, the user can perform a swipe operation without beinganxious about a page being switched against the intention of the userand can move the rectangular cursor to the position of a desired item bycontinuously performing swipe operations without hesitation.

Here, pages are assumed to be lined up in the horizontal direction, anda page is switched in response to the movement of the rectangular cursorin the horizontal direction as a trigger that corresponds to a swipeoperation in the horizontal direction. Besides, for example, pages canbe assumed to be lined up in the vertical direction, and a page can beswitched in response to the movement of the rectangular cursor in thevertical direction as a trigger that corresponds to a swipe operation inthe vertical direction.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process when therectangular cursor is moved in response to a swipe operation on thetouchpad 22. Here, pages are lined up in the horizontal direction.

In step S31, the determination unit 82 determines whether thedestination of movement of the rectangular cursor by a swipe operationis the item (the position thereof) in the adjacent page adjacent to thecurrent page on the basis of the operation signal supplied from thecommunication unit 81.

The process proceeds to step S32 when the destination of movement of therectangular cursor by the swipe operation is determined not to be theitem in the adjacent page adjacent to the current page, that is, whenthe destination of movement of the rectangular cursor by the swipeoperation is an item in the current page in step S31. The control unit83 moves the rectangular cursor to the item (the position thereof) inthe current page that is the destination of movement of the rectangularcursor by the swipe operation, and the process returns to step S31.

The process proceeds to step S33 when the destination of movement of therectangular cursor by the swipe operation is determined to be the itemin the adjacent page adjacent to the current page in step S31. Thedetermination unit 82 determines whether the start position of movementof the rectangular cursor is the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacentpage that is the destination of movement of the rectangular cursor amongthe items in the current page.

The process proceeds to step S34, and the page is switched when thestart position of movement of the rectangular cursor is determined to bethe adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page that is the destinationof movement of the rectangular cursor among the items in the currentpage, that is, for example, in a case where the rectangular cursor is atthe item at the left end or the right end of the current page when aswipe operation is started to the left or the right in step S33.

In step S34, the control unit 83 switches the current page to theadjacent page that is the destination of movement of the rectangularcursor and moves the rectangular cursor to the position of the item inthe current page after switching (the item at the right end or the leftend of the current page after switching) adjacent to the current pagebefore switching. Then, the process returns to step S31 from step S34,and thereafter, the same process is repeated.

Meanwhile, the process proceeds to step S35 when the start position ofmovement of the rectangular cursor is determined not to be the adjacentitem adjacent to the adjacent page that is the destination of movementof the rectangular cursor among the items in the current page, that is,for example, in a case where the rectangular cursor is at an item otherthan the item at the left end or at an item other than the item at theright end of the current page when a swipe operation is started to theleft or the right in step S33. The control unit 83 restricts therectangular cursor to move up to the position of the item (the item atthe left end or the right end of the current page) adjacent to theadjacent page that is the destination of movement of the rectangularcursor among the items in the current page and moves the rectangularcursor to the position of the item. Then, the process returns to stepS31 from step S35, and thereafter, the same process is repeated.

In the case described above, the page can be switched when therectangular cursor is at the position of the item at the left end or theright end of the current page, and a swipe operation is started to theleft or the right. Besides, the page can be switched without beingdependent on the position of the rectangular cursor.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for performingpage switching without being dependent on the position of therectangular cursor.

That is, FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating the touchpad 22schematically.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, an area 22L that is a part of the touchpad 22at the left end and an area 22R that is a part of the touchpad 22 at theright end are set for page switching. Page switching can be performed,for example, when the area 22L at the left end is swiped to be operatedto the right to switch the current page to the left page (previous page)regardless of the position of the rectangular cursor.

Furthermore, page switching can be performed, for example, when the area22R at the right end is swiped to be operated to the left to switch thecurrent page to the right page (next page) regardless of the position ofthe rectangular cursor.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 18, an area 41 that is a part of thetouchpad 22 at the upper end is set for page switching. Page switchingcan be performed, for example, when the area 41 is swiped to be operatedto the right or the left to switch the current page to the left page(previous page) or the right page (next page) regardless of the positionof the rectangular cursor.

As described above, page switching can be performed without moving therectangular cursor up to the item at the left end or the right end ofthe current page when page switching is performed without beingdependent on the position of the rectangular cursor. Thus, the number ofoperational moves necessary for page switching can decrease, and pageswitching can be performed quickly.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating an example of updating thestart position of movement.

As described in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the rectangular cursor is restrictedto move up to the adjacent item when the start position of movement ofthe rectangular cursor is not the position of the adjacent item adjacentto the adjacent page in the direction of movement of the rectangularcursor among the items in the current page, and the movement of therectangular cursor is not restricted when the start position of movementof the rectangular cursor is the position of the adjacent item in thecurrent page. However, even in these cases, page switching may beperformed against the intention of the user when a swipe operation isperformed like changing the direction of movement of the rectangularcursor.

FIG. 19A illustrates an example of page switching that occurs againstthe intention of the user when a swipe operation is performed likechanging the direction of movement of the rectangular cursor.

In FIG. 19A, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor isthe position of the item at the right end of the page #1 that is thecurrent page, and a swipe operation is performed to move the rectangularcursor to the left. Thereafter, a swipe operation is performed to changethe direction of movement of the rectangular cursor from the left to theopposite right with the contact on the touchpad 22 not being released.

In this case, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursoris the item (the item at the right end of the page #1) adjacent to thepage #2 that is the adjacent page in the right that is the direction ofmovement of the rectangular cursor among the items in the page #1 thatis the current page. Thus, the movement of the rectangular cursor is notrestricted, and page switching is performed to switch the current pagefrom the page #1 to the page #2 by the swipe operation that moves therectangular cursor to the right.

As described above, the start position of movement of the rectangularcursor is the position of the item at the right end of the page #1 thatis the current page, and the user performs a swipe operation to move therectangular cursor to the left. Thereafter, the user performs a swipeoperation to change the direction of movement of the rectangular cursorfrom the left to the opposite right with the contact on the touchpad 22not being released. However, for example as for that case, the user maychange the direction of the swipe operation from the left to the rightafter performing a swipe operation to the left to move the rectangularcursor at the position of the item at the right end of the page #1 tothe position of the item adjacent to the left because the amount of theswipe operation is excessively great.

The user does not intend to perform page switching in such a case toswitch the current page from the page #1 to the page #2. Thus, pageswitching is desirably restricted.

The control unit 83 can restrict such page switching that occurs againstthe intention of the user described above by setting the start positionof movement of the rectangular cursor to the position of the item wherethe direction of movement is changed when the direction of movement ofthe rectangular cursor is changed.

FIG. 19B illustrates an example of page switching when the startposition of movement of the rectangular cursor is set to the position ofthe item where the direction of movement is changed when the directionof movement of the rectangular cursor is changed.

In FIG. 19B, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor isthe position of the item at the right end of the page #1 that is thecurrent page, and a swipe operation is performed to move the rectangularcursor to the left. Thereafter, a swipe operation is performed to changethe direction of movement of the rectangular cursor from the left to theopposite right with the contact on the touchpad 22 not being released.

In FIG. 19B, the direction of movement of the rectangular cursor ischanged at the position of the item at the left end of the page #1 fromthe left to the opposite right. At this time, the control unit 83 sets(resets) the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor to theposition of the item at the left end of the page #1 from the position ofthe item at the right end of the page #1.

In this case, the start position of movement of the rectangular cursoris the item at the left end of the page #1, not the item (the item atthe right end of the page #1) adjacent to the page #2 that is theadjacent page in the right that is the direction of movement of therectangular cursor among the items in the page #1. Thus, the rectangularcursor is restricted to move up to the position of the item (the item atthe right end of the page #1) adjacent to the page #2 that is theadjacent page among the items in the page #1. As a consequence, pageswitching is not performed.

Accordingly, page switching can be prevented from being performedagainst the intention of the user when the user performs a swipeoperation like changing the direction of movement of the rectangularcursor as described above.

Page switching can be performed without restricting the rectangularcursor to move up to the position of the adjacent item under apredetermined condition even when the start position of movement of therectangular cursor is not the position of the adjacent item adjacent tothe adjacent page in the direction of movement of the rectangular cursoramong the items in the current page.

That is, page switching can be performed without restricting therectangular cursor to move up to the position of the adjacent item when,for example, a flick operation other than a swipe operation is performedeven though the start position of movement of the rectangular cursor isnot the position of the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page inthe direction of movement of the rectangular cursor among the items inthe current page.

Incidentally, the user may not notice that pages other than the currentpage exist when multiple items are divided into multiple pages, and theitems are displayed for each page in the TV 12.

The control unit 83 can display announcement information for announcingthat the adjacent page exists on the display screen when the adjacentpage adjacent to the current page exists.

The announcement information can be displayed corresponding to theposition of the rectangular cursor in the current page or can bedisplayed regardless of the position of the rectangular cursor.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a first display example of theannouncement information. The pages #1 and #2 exist, and the page #1 isthe current page in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, displaying a part of the page #2 that is theadjacent page adjacent to the page #1 that is the current page in apartial view at an end of the display screen regardless of the positionof the rectangular cursor can be adopted as a display of theannouncement information.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 20, changing the transmissivity ofthe part of the page #2 in a partial view from a light state to anintense state when the rectangular cursor is positioned at the adjacentitem (the item at the right end of the page #1) adjacent to the page #2that is the adjacent page among the items in the page #1 that is thecurrent page can be adopted as a display of the announcementinformation.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a second display example of theannouncement information. Like in FIG. 20, the pages #1 and #2 exist,and the page #1 is the current page in FIG. 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, animating the page #2 displayed in a partialview to approach the page #1 when the rectangular cursor is positionedat the adjacent item (the item at the right end of the page #1) adjacentto the page #2 that is the adjacent page among the items in the page #1that is the current page can be adopted as a display of the announcementinformation.

Besides, for example, displaying symbols such as an arrow that indicatesthat the adjacent page exists at an end of the display screen can beadopted as a display of the announcement information.

Furthermore, with combinations of the examples in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21,that is, both displaying change in the transmissivity of the part of thepage #2 in a partial view from a light state to an intense state whenthe rectangular cursor is positioned at the adjacent item (the item atthe right end of the page #1) adjacent to the page #2 that is theadjacent page among the items in the page #1 that is the current pageand animating the page #2 displayed in a partial view to approach thepage #1 can be adopted as a display of the announcement information.

The user can easily recognize that the adjacent page exists bydisplaying the announcement information that announces that the adjacentpage exists as described above.

Movement of the Free Point Cursor

FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a process when movingthe free point cursor in the TV 12.

The discrete point cursor or the free point cursor is displayed in theTV 12 when necessary. The control unit 83, for example, moves the freepoint cursor in response to a swipe operation on the touchpad 22 whenthe free point cursor is displayed in the TV 12. That is, the user canmove the free point cursor by swiping to operate the touchpad 22.

In addition, the user can confirm selection of a GUI where the freepoint cursor is positioned, call a function assigned to the GUI, orperform the like in the TV 12 by moving the free point cursor on adesired GUI such as a button displayed on the display screen and pushingor the like to operate the touchpad 22 or a push button for pushing.

The user may move the free point cursor straightly in the horizontaldirection or the vertical direction, but the actual swipe operation isperformed like drawing an arc even though the user intends to perform aswipe operation straightly in the horizontal direction of the verticaldirection as described in FIGS. 9A to 9C when the user holds the remotecontroller 11 in the hand and operates the touchpad 22 with the thumb.

Accordingly, operability of the free point cursor may decrease when sucha swipe operation is reflected as it is in moving the free point cursor.The control unit 83 can correct the position of the free point cursorwhen moving the free point cursor.

That is, in step S51, the control unit 83 sets a direction (one betweenthe horizontal direction and the vertical direction) with the greateramount of movement to a long edge direction and sets the other direction(the other between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction)to a short edge direction between the horizontal direction and thevertical direction with the amount of movement as components of theamount of movement of the free point cursor in response to the swipeoperation on the touchpad 22.

Then, the process proceeds to step S52 from step S51, and the controlunit 83 determines whether all of the amount of the long edge movementL_(L) that is the amount of movement in the long edge direction and theamount of the short edge movement L_(S) that is the amount of movementin the short edge direction are 0.

The process returns to step S51 when all of the amount of the long edgemovement L_(L) and the amount of the short edge movement L_(S) aredetermined to be 0 in step S52.

The process proceeds to step S53 when the amount of the long edgemovement L_(L) is determined not to be 0 in step S52, and the controlunit 83 corrects the position of the free point cursor.

That is, the control unit 83 obtains the position of the free pointcursor after correction in accordance with the expression below in stepS53.

Given that P_(L) denotes a long edge position (one between the xcoordinate and the y coordinate) that is the position of the free pointcursor in the long edge direction, and P_(S) denotes a short edgeposition (the other between the x coordinate and the y coordinate) thatis the position of the free point cursor in the short edge direction,the control unit 83 obtains the long edge position P_(L) and the shortedge position P_(S) as the position of the free point cursor aftercorrection in accordance with Expression 1.

P _(L) =P _(L) +L _(L)

P _(S) =P _(S) +L _(S) ×|L _(S) |/|L _(L)|  Expression 1

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S54 from step S53, and thecontrol unit 83 moves the free point cursor to a position specified bythe long edge position PL and the short edge position PS. Then, theprocess returns to step S51 from step S54, and thereafter, the sameprocess is repeated.

The user is highly likely to perform a swipe operation not intended tomove the free point cursor in the short edge direction but to intend tomove only in the long edge direction when the difference between theamount of the long edge movement L_(L) and the amount of the short edgemovement L_(S) is great.

According to Expression 1, the movement of the free point cursor issuppressed in the short edge direction that is the direction with thesmaller amount of movement (the amount of the short edge movement L_(S))between the amount of the horizontal movement in the horizontaldirection and the amount of the vertical movement in the verticaldirection of the free point cursor in response to a swipe operation onthe touchpad 22. Thus, when the user performs a swipe operation notintended to move the free point cursor in the short edge direction butto move only in the long edge direction, the movement of the free pointcursor is suppressed in the short edge direction. Therefore, operationalsensitivity can be improved. That is, the user can easily operate thefree point cursor in the intended long edge direction.

Furthermore, even when the user operates the remote controller 11 in anyone of the right hand and the left hand, the same operationalsensitivity can be obtained by correcting the position of the free pointcursor according to Expression 1.

In addition, holding multiple contact positions on the touchpad 22(holding the trajectory of a swipe operation) during a swipe operationor performing complex calculations is not necessary in correcting theposition of the free point cursor according to Expression 1. Thus,memory used and a process load are reduced even when the correctionprocess is embedded in any of software and hardware.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the anglethat indicates the direction of a swipe operation (angle of operation)on the touchpad 22 and the angle that indicates the direction ofmovement (angle of movement) of the free point cursor.

In FIG. 23, the solid line illustrates the relationship between theangle of operation and the angle of movement when correcting theposition of the free point cursor according to Expression 1, and thedotted line illustrates the relationship between the angle of operationand the angle of movement when not correcting the position of the freepoint cursor according to Expression 1.

The angle of operation and the angle of movement in FIG. 23 are anglesgiven that the horizontal direction is 0 degrees.

It can be noticed that the free point cursor further moves in thehorizontal direction during a swipe operation in a direction close tothe horizontal direction (transverse direction), and the free pointcursor further moves in the vertical direction during a swipe operationin a direction close to the vertical direction (perpendicular direction)according to FIG. 23.

A method for correcting the position of the free point cursor thatsuppresses the movement of the free point cursor in the short edgedirection is not limited to the correction in accordance withExpression 1. Any methods that suppress the movement of the free pointcursor in the short edge direction can be adopted as the above method.

Incidentally, as described above, the user can confirm selection of aGUI where the free point cursor is positioned, call a function assignedto the GUI, or perform the like by moving the free point cursor on adesired GUI such as a button displayed on the display screen and pushingto operate the touchpad 22 or a push button.

However, the contact position on the touchpad 22 and further theposition of the free point cursor may be dislocated during the pushoperation. As a consequence, the push operation may be performed whilethe free point cursor is at a GUI that is not the desired GUI or at aposition deviated from the desired GUI.

The determination unit 82 can determine whether a push operation isperformed in the TV 12, and the control unit 83 can restrict themovement of the free point cursor so as not to move the free pointcursor when a push operation is performed.

Restricting the movement of the free point cursor as described abovewhen a push operation is performed can prevent the push operation frombeing performed while the position of the free point cursor isdislocated during the push operation, and the free point cursor is at aGUI that is not the desired GUI or at a position deviated from thedesired GUI.

As a consequence, the user can be relieved from uncertainties such asthe position of the free point cursor being dislocated during the pushoperation.

Determining whether a push operation is performed, for example, can bebased on the presence of contact on the push button.

However, as for the touchpad 22, even when the touchpad 22 is contacted,determining whether the contact is for a swipe operation or the likeother than a push operation or whether the contact is for a pushoperation is difficult.

As for the touchpad 22, the determination unit 82 can determine a pushoperation on the touchpad 22, for example, on the basis of one or moreof a pressure on the touchpad 22, the area of a contact position wherethe user contacts the touchpad 22, the distance of movement on thetouchpad 22 in a direction of the push operation, and the like.

The pressure on the touchpad 22, for example, can be detected bydisposing a pressure sensor in the touchpad 22. The distance of movementon the touchpad 22 in the direction of the push operation, for example,can be detected by measuring the distance from a predetermined positionto the touchpad 22 using a laser.

As for the touchpad 22, a push operation on the touchpad 22 isdetermined on the basis of one or more of the pressure on the touchpad22, the area of a contact position where the user contacts the touchpad22, the distance of movement on the touchpad 22 in the direction of thepush operation, and the like as described above. Thus, it can bedetermined whether contact on the touchpad 22 is for an operation otherthan the push operation or whether for the push operation.

Furthermore, the free point cursor can be prevented from beingdislocated even if a push operation on the touchpad 22 increases thearea of a contact position on the touchpad 22, and a detection pointdetected as the contact position on the touchpad 22 is dislocated sincethe movement of the free point cursor is restricted when the pushoperation is performed on the touchpad 22.

Description of a Computer to Which the Present Technology Is Applied

The series of processes described above can be performed by hardware orcan be performed by software. When the series of processes is performedby software, a program that constitutes the software is installed on aversatile computer or the like.

FIG. 24 illustrates a configuration example of an embodiment of acomputer on which the program that executes the series of processesdescribed above is installed. The program can be recorded in advance ina hard disk 105 or a ROM 103 as a recording medium incorporated in thecomputer.

Alternatively, the program can be stored (recorded) in a removablerecording medium 111. The removable recording medium 111 can be providedas a so-called package software. As the removable recording medium 111,for example, a flexible disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM),a magneto-optical (MO) disk, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a magneticdisk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is used.

Besides being installed on the computer from the removable recordingmedium 111 as described above, the program can be downloaded on thecomputer through a communication network or a broadcast network andinstalled in the incorporated hard disk 105. That is, the program, forexample, can be wirelessly transferred to the computer via a satellitefor digital satellite broadcasting from a download site or can betransferred to the computer in a wired manner through a network such asa local area network (LAN) and the Internet.

The computer incorporates a central processing unit (CPU) 102. An inputand output interface 110 is connected to the CPU 102 via a bus 101.

The CPU 102 executes the program stored in the read-only memory (ROM)103 according to a command when the user operates an input unit 107 orperforms the like to input the command through the input and outputinterface 110. Alternatively, the CPU 102 executes the program stored inthe hard disk 105 after loading the program into a random access memory(RAM) 104.

Consequently, the CPU 102 performs a process according to the flowcharts described above or performs a process with the configuration inthe block diagram described above. Then, the process result, forexample, is output from an output unit 106 through the input and outputinterface 110, is transmitted from a communication unit 108, or isrecorded in the hard disk 105 by the CPU 102.

The input unit 107 is configured of a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone,and the like. The output unit 106 is configured of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a speaker, and the like.

In the present specification, the process performed by the computeraccording to the program is not necessarily performed in a time-seriesmanner in an order described as the flow charts. That is, the processperformed by the computer according to the program includes a processexecuted individually or in a parallel manner (for example, a parallelprocess or a process performed by an object).

In addition, the program may be processed by one computer (processor) ormay be processed in a distributed manner by multiple computers.Furthermore, the program may be executed after being transferred to aremote computer.

In the present specification, the system means a collection of multipleconstituents (devices, modules (components), and the like). It does notmatter whether all the constituents are in the same case. Accordingly,multiple devices accommodated in separate cases and connected through anetwork and one device with multiple modules accommodated in one caseare all included in the system.

Embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the embodimentdescribed above. Various modifications may be made without departingfrom the gist of the present technology. For example, the presenttechnology can have a configuration of cloud computing in which onefunction is divided among multiple devices through a network and isjointly processed by the multiple devices.

In addition, besides being executed by one device, each step describedin the flow charts above can be divided among multiple devices andexecuted by the multiple devices.

Furthermore, when multiple processes are included in one step, themultiple processes included in the one step can be divided amongmultiple devices and executed by the multiple devices besides beingexecuted by one device.

In the present embodiment, the remote controller 11 that includes thetouchpad 22 is adopted as a device for operating the cursor. Besides,for example, an operating device that includes a sensor such as ajoystick, a gyro, and an accelerometer; a portable terminal such as acommunicable wearable terminal; or further a gesture (a device thatrecognizes a gesture and moves the cursor in response to the gesture); aline of sight (a device that detects a line of sight and moves thecursor in response to the line of sight); a biosignal (a device thatdetects a biosignal and moves the cursor in response to the biosignal)such as brainwaves and nerves; or others can be adopted as a device foroperating the cursor.

In addition, the cursor displayed by the TV 12 is controlled in thepresent embodiment. Besides, the present technology can be applied to acase where, for example, a cursor displayed by an electronic apparatusother than the TV such as a recorder, a game console, and a head-mounteddisplay is controlled.

In addition, a part or the entire of functions of the determination unit82 in the TV 12 can be assigned to the remote controller 11.

Furthermore, the effect described in the present specification is onlyillustrative and is not limited. Other effects may be achieved.

The present technology can have the following configurations:

-   1. A control device including a control unit that displays a first    cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user    and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.-   2. The control device according to 1 in which an item that is    selected by the first cursor is displayed on the display screen, and    the control unit continuously changes the second cursor in response    to the operation of the user and moves the first cursor to an item    that is positioned in the direction of change of the second cursor    when the amount of change of the second cursor with the first cursor    as a reference exceeds a threshold that corresponds to the size of    the first cursor.-   3. The control device according to 2 in which the control unit    displays the second cursor only during the operation of the user.-   4. The control device according to 2 or 3 in which the control unit    resets the second cursor to an initial state with a predetermined    event as a trigger.-   5. The control device according to 4 in which the control unit    resets the second cursor to the initial state with events such as    the user stopping contact with a touchpad, the user not operating    continuously for a predetermined time period, the first cursor being    moved, and the user reversing the direction of the operation as the    trigger.-   6. The control device according to any one of 2 to 5 in which the    item is two-dimensionally arranged and displayed, and the control    unit displays the first cursor at the position of the    two-dimensionally arranged item, continuously changes the second    cursor in response to the operation of the user, moves the first    cursor in the horizontal direction when the amount of change of the    second cursor in the horizontal direction with the first cursor as a    reference exceeds the threshold that corresponds to the size of the    first cursor, and moves the first cursor in the vertical direction    when the amount of change of the second cursor in the vertical    direction with the first cursor as a reference exceeds the threshold    that corresponds to the size of the first cursor.-   7. The control device according to 6 in which the control unit    resets the state of the second cursor in a direction orthogonal to    the direction of movement of the first cursor to an initial state    when the first cursor is moved.-   8. The control device according to any one of 1 to 7 in which the    control unit displays a cursor that is separate from the first    cursor as the second cursor.-   9. The control device according to any one of 1 to 7 in which the    control unit integrally displays the first cursor and the second    cursor.-   10. A control method including displaying a first cursor that    discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second    cursor that changes continuously on a display screen.-   11. A program that causes a computer to function as a control unit    that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to    an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes    continuously on a display screen.-   12. An electronic apparatus including a reception unit that receives    an operation signal which is transmitted from a remote controller    and corresponds to an operation of a user, and a control unit that    displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to the    operation signal and a second cursor which changes continuously on a    display screen.-   13. A control device including a control unit that displays a cursor    which discretely moves to the position of an item displayed on a    display screen in response to an operation of a user and restricts    the cursor to move up to the adjacent item when the start position    of movement of the cursor is not the position of the adjacent item    adjacent to the adjacent page in the direction of movement of the    cursor among the items in the current page displayed on the display    screen in a case where multiple pages exist.-   14. The control device according to 13 in which the control unit    switches the current page to the adjacent page and moves the cursor    to the position of the item in the current page after page switching    that is adjacent to the current page before page switching when the    start position of movement of the cursor is the position of the    adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page in the direction of    movement of the cursor among the items in the current page.-   15. The control device according to 13 or 14 in which the control    unit sets the start position of movement of the cursor to the    position of the item where the direction of movement of the cursor    is changed when the direction of movement of the cursor is changed.-   16. The control device according to any one of 13 to 15 in which the    control unit switches the current page in response to an operation    in a predetermined area of a touchpad regardless of the position of    the cursor.-   17. The control device according to any one of 13 to 16 in which the    control unit displays announcement information that announces that    the adjacent page exists on the display screen when the adjacent    page exists.-   18. The control device according to 17 in which the control unit    displays the announcement information when the cursor is positioned    at the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page among the items    in the current page.-   19. A control method including displaying a cursor which discretely    moves to the position of an item displayed on a display screen in    response to an operation of a user and restricts the cursor to move    up to the adjacent item when the start position of movement of the    cursor is not the position of the adjacent item adjacent to the    adjacent page in the direction of movement of the cursor among the    items in the current page displayed on the display screen in a case    where multiple pages exist.-   20. A program that causes a computer to function as a control unit    that displays a cursor which discretely moves to the position of an    item displayed on a display screen in response to an operation of a    user and restricts the cursor to move up to the adjacent item when    the start position of movement of the cursor is not the position of    the adjacent item adjacent to the adjacent page in the direction of    movement of the cursor among the items in the current page displayed    on the display screen in a case where multiple pages exist.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control device comprising: a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.
 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein an item that is selected by the first cursor is displayed on the display screen, and the control unit continuously changes the second cursor in response to the operation of the user and moves the first cursor to an item that is positioned in the direction of change of the second cursor when the amount of change of the second cursor with the first cursor as a reference exceeds a threshold that corresponds to the size of the first cursor.
 3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit displays the second cursor only during the operation of the user.
 4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit resets the second cursor to an initial state with a predetermined event as a trigger.
 5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit resets the second cursor to the initial state with events such as the user stopping contact with a touchpad, the user not operating continuously for a predetermined time period, the first cursor being moved, and the user reversing the direction of the operation as the trigger.
 6. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the item is two-dimensionally arranged and displayed, and the control unit displays the first cursor at the position of the two-dimensionally arranged item, continuously changes the second cursor in response to the operation of the user, moves the first cursor in the horizontal direction when the amount of change of the second cursor in the horizontal direction with the first cursor as a reference exceeds the threshold that corresponds to the size of the first cursor, and moves the first cursor in the vertical direction when the amount of change of the second cursor in the vertical direction with the first cursor as a reference exceeds the threshold that corresponds to the size of the first cursor.
 7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit resets the state of the second cursor in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the first cursor to an initial state when the first cursor is moved.
 8. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit displays a cursor that is separate from the first cursor as the second cursor.
 9. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit integrally displays the first cursor and the second cursor.
 10. A control method comprising: displaying a first cursor that discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor that changes continuously on a display screen.
 11. A program that causes a computer to function as: a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to an operation of a user and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen.
 12. An electronic apparatus comprising: a reception unit that receives an operation signal which is transmitted from a remote controller and corresponds to an operation of a user; and a control unit that displays a first cursor which discretely moves in response to the operation signal and a second cursor which changes continuously on a display screen. 